Happenings: Our January Calendar of Events

December 29, 2017 | by TheBurg Editor

Happenings

Museum & Art Spaces

3rd Street Studio
1725 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-385-3315; Facebook: 3^rd Street Studio

“Imaginative Spaces,” featuring the art of Joan Maguire, Christine Goldbeck and Elaine Brady, through Jan. 15.

AACA Museum
161 Museum Dr., Hershey
717-566-7100; aacamuseum.org

“Getting the Job Done—Vehicles that Earned Their Keep,” through April 23.

National Corvette Restorers Society Exhibit, through April 23.

“DeLorean Prototype & Production,” through April 30.

Art Association of Harrisburg
21 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-1432; artassocofhbg.com

“Linear Juxtaposition,” the art of Jim Caufield, G. Mark Schwager, Pamela J. Souders, Wendy S. Sweigart and John Wright, through Jan. 4.

“Figuratively Speaking,” the human form in a variety of art pieces, Jan. 12-Feb. 15; reception: Jan. 12, 5-8 p.m.

Carlisle Arts Learning Center
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

“Juried Exhibit: Square One,” featuring juried artwork prompted by the concept of “square one,” Jan. 12-Feb. 3; reception: Jan. 12, 6:30 p.m.

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Artist of the Month: Kirk Kulgavin

Gallery@Second
608 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
galleryatsecond.com

Works by Carrie Wissler-Thomas and Peg Belcastro, through Jan. 13.

“Nothing Pretty,” works by Tristan Bond, Tina Berrier, Aron Rook, Rance Shepstone, Sean Arce and Ted Walke, Jan. 18-Feb. 10; reception, Jan. 19, 6-9 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyareaartassociation.com

“Nature’s Art,” Jan. 12-15 at the Hershey Gardens Conservatory

Landis House
Perry County Council of the Arts
67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“Third Annual PCCA Juried Exhibition,” featuring juried regional artwork in a variety of media, through Jan. 19.

Metropolis Collective
17 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg
717-458-8245; Facebook: Metropolis Collective

“Night Visions,” a solo exhibition featuring the art of Hannah Dobek, through Feb. 5.

“A Wintry Mix IV,” an open theme group exhibition, Jan. 5-Feb. 25; reception: Jan. 5, 7-11 p.m.

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

Group cash and carry show featuring The Millworks’ artists, through Jan. 15.

New works by Lauren Castillo, John Davis, Bob McCloskey, Paul Vasiliades, Ann Benton Yeager

National Civil War Museum
One Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg
717-260-1861; nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

“Honored Veterans: Fraternal Organizations Borne of the Civil War,” through June 2.

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

The Kopp Collection, featuring 30,000 species of butterflies and moths, through April.

PCCA Gallery
Perry County Council of the Arts
1 S. 2nd St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“Artisan Marketplace of Perry County,” showcasing unique local art and handcrafted items for holiday gift giving that supports regional artists and crafters, through Jan. 6.

Pennsylvania National Fire Museum
1820 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-232-8915; pnfm.org

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

“The Art of the State Purchase Award Collection,” showcasing Art of the State works that were purchased by the museum, in celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the juried exhibition, through Feb. 18.

“Every Thing of Interest Show: T.M. Fowler’s Pennsylvania Bird’s-Eye View, 1885-1905,” showcasing Thaddeus Mortimer Fowler’s lithographic prints with bird’s eye views of American towns and cities, through May 6.

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; sqart.org

“Ansel Adams: Early Works,” through Jan. 21.

“Neil Anderson—Quartet for America,” contemporary paintings inspired by natural landscapes, through Jan. 21.

“Memory and Invention,” landscape and cityscape paintings by Robert Andriulli, through Feb. 11.

“Tropical Wasteland,” abstracted landscapes by Vu Nguyen, through Feb. 25.

Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery
Lebanon Valley College
101 College Ave., Annville
717-233-8668; lvc.edu/gallery

“Sacred: Image, Text, Ritual,” exploring sacred art of five major religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism, Jan. 19-March 18.

Yellow Bird Café
1320 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-635-8991; yellowbird-cafe.com

Works by Emmeline Zhu, through Jan. 14.

Works by Peg Belcastro, Jan. 19-Feb. 11.

Zeroday Brewing Co.
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com

Art by Ryan Spahr, through Jan. 18.

“Eclectics,” art by Keegan Beinhower, Jan. 19-Feb. 15.

Read, Make, Learn

Carlisle Arts Learning Center
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Basic Drawing Class, 2-4 p.m.
Jan. 8-Feb. 12: Fundamentals of Photography, Mondays, 6:30-8 p.m.
Jan. 9-Feb. 13: Advanced Photography, Tuesdays, 6:30-8 p.m.

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Jan. 3: Healthy and Delicious, 6-9 p.m.
Jan. 10: Comforting Soups, 6-9 p.m.
Jan. 24: Mid-Winter Comforts, 6-9 p.m.

East Shore Area Library
4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg
717-652-9380; dcls.org

Jan. 12: Getting to Know Your Computer I, 11 a.m.
Jan. 14: Crazy for Coloring, 2 p.m.
Jan. 20: Giant Pennsylvania Map, 2 p.m.
Jan. 26: Getting to Know Your Computer II, 11 a.m.

Fredricksen Library
100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill
717-761-3900; fredricksenlibrary.org

Jan. 2: Curl Up with the Classics—“Cheaper by the Dozen,” 10 a.m.
Jan. 4: Never Too Old—Young Adult Book Club for Adults, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25: Blood Pressure Screenings, 9:15 a.m.-1 p.m.
Jan. 5: Youth Chess Night, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 8: Philosophers’ Roundtable, 2 p.m.
Jan. 8: Twisted Stitchers, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 10, 11: Library for Lunch—Bring Your Dinosaur, 12 p.m.
Jan. 12, 26: Foreign Film Friday, 2 and 7 p.m.
Jan. 12: Central PA Blood Bank Drive, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13: Getting Started with Tai Chi, 1:30 p.m.
Jan. 13: Trivia After Hours—Simpsons (BYOB), 7 p.m.
Jan. 16: Fredricksen Reads—“Hillbilly Elegy,” 7 p.m.
Jan. 18: Harry Potter Fandom Frenzy (ages 10-13), 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 19: Family Movie Night, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 20: Traditional Chinese Dumpling Workshop, 1:30 p.m.
Jan. 21: Game Day for All, 1:30 p.m.
Jan. 22: Lego Club, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 28: Adult Crafternoon—Play with Clay, 1:30 p.m.

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-798-6973; hbgimprov.com

Jan. 15-March 5: Improv Level 1, 7-10 p.m.
Jan. 9-Feb. 27: Improv Level 2, 7-10 p.m.
Jan. 20-March 10: Kidprov (ages 5-8), 10-11 a.m.
Jan. 20-March 10: Kidprov (ages 9-12), 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Joseph T. Simpson Public Library
16 N. Walnut St, Mechanicsburg
717-766-0171; simpsonlibrary.org

Jan. 2: Tabletop Games, 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Tea & Stitches, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 3: Intro to Apple MacBook, 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 4: Learn to Knit, 7-8 p.m.
Jan. 5: Coloring for Adults, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Jan. 8: iPad/iPhone Beginners, 1-3 p.m.
Jan. 10: Mad About Mysteries, 7-8 p.m.
Jan. 11, 25: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Jan. 15: Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
Jan. 17: Planning Financial Goals for 2018, 7-8 p.m.
Jan. 18: Thursday Morning Book Club, 10-11 a.m.
Jan. 22: English Conversation Group, 6:30-8 p.m.
Jan. 23: Tea & Stitches Extended, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Jan. 24: Apple Users Group, 1-3 p.m.
Jan. 24: Yoga for Beginners, 7-8 p.m.

Kline Library
530 S. 29^th St., Harrisburg
717-234-3934; dcls.org

Jan. 16: A Very Merry Unbirthday, 6 p.m.
Jan. 17: Friends and Readers Book Club, 2 p.m.
Jan. 30: Cocoa and Snowflakes, 6 p.m.

Landis House
Perry County Council of the Arts
67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

Jan. 6: Drop-in Art, 1-4 p.m.
Jan. 14: Central PA Potters Association, 2-5 p.m.

The LBGT Center of Central PA
1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-920-9534; centralpalgbtcenter.org

Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Common Roads Youth, 6 p.m.
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: Queer People of Color, 2-4 p.m.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Common Roads Young Adults, 4 p.m.
Jan. 11: Aging with Pride Lunchtime, 12-2 p.m.

Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library
2410 North 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-232-7286; dcls.org

Jan. 8, 22, 29: Video Game Club, 4 p.m.
Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31: After School Hangout, 3 p.m.
Jan. 22: Cookbook Book Club, 6 p.m.

McCormick Riverfront Library
101 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-234-4976; dcls.org

Jan. 17, 24, 31: Mid-Day Getaway, 11:30 a.m.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Café
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

Jan. 2: Sci Fi Writers Group, 7-9 p.m.
Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Coffee, Cake and True Islam, 5-7 p.m.
Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Midtown Chess Club, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7-9 p.m.
Jan. 5, 12, 26: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7-9 p.m.
Jan. 14: LGBT Book Club, 5 p.m.
Jan. 21: Midtown Writers Group, 1-3 p.m.
Jan. 27: Story Time w/St. Stephens, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 28: Harrisburg Young Professionals Book Club, 2-4 p.m.

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

Jan. 6: Fluid Art Painting Class, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Jan. 27: Creative Art Journaling, 1-5 p.m.

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

Jan. 4: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 5: Library After Hours—Library Scavenger Hunt, 7-8:30 p.m.
Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29: Preschool Storytime, 10:15 a.m.
Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29: Toddler Storytime, 11 a.m.
Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29: 1-2-3 Library, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 9: Book Review Program, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30: Book Babies, 11:15 a.m.
Jan. 10, 15, 24: Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Jan. 13: Write-On Writer’s Workshop, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Jan. 17: How to Keep the Pre in Pre-Diabetes, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 17, 24, 31: My First Book Club (ages 5-8), 3:45-4:45 p.m.
Jan. 18: STEM Club, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
Jan. 20: Couponing For Extreme Savings, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 26: Baby Open Play, 11-12:30 p.m.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

Jan. 18: Nature Lab—Craters! (ages 3-5), 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Jan. 19: Learn at Lunchtime, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
Jan. 25: Nature Lab—White-Tailed Deer, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; sqart.org

Jan. 17: Life Drawing, 6-9 p.m.

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; wildwoodlake.org

Jan. 7: Mindfulness Hike, 10-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 16: Winter Lecture Series—Northern Bobwhite Quail, 7-8:30 p.m.
Jan. 27: Cadette Girl Scout Workshop—Night Owl, 4-8 p.m.
Jan. 30: Winter Lecture Series—Amphibians and Reptiles of Dauphin County, 7-8:30 p.m.
Jan. 31: Preschool Storytime—Winter at Wildwood, 10-10:45 a.m.

Live Music

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com

Jan. 12: Mike Albert’s Elvis Gospel Show
Jan. 13: Elvis Birthday Bash w/Mike Albert & Scot Bruce
Jan. 19: Kashmir, Tribute to Led Zeppelin
Jan. 20: The O’Connor Band
Jan. 28: The Man in Black, Tribute to Johnny Cash

Appalachian Brewing Co./Abbey Bar
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-221-1083; abcbrew.com

Jan. 5: Matt Wheeler & Vintage Heart, Vulcans, Justin Angelo Band
Jan. 19: Driftwood, Mountain Ride
Jan. 20: Andy Mowatt’s Steely Jam, Appalachian Gypsy Tribe
Jan. 27: Will Jack & The Northern Light

Appel Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; mystrandcapitol.org

Jan. 20: York Symphony Orchestra

Chameleon Club
223 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-299-9684; chameleonclub.net

Jan., 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Lizard Lounge Open Mic
Jan. 6: The Speedboys
Jan. 12: Serenica, American Lions
Jan. 15: centerfolds
Jan. 17: Neon Dreams
Jan. 19: Twiztid
Jan. 20: Royal Thunder, Spafford
Jan. 27: Whiskey Myers

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Jan. 5: Caroline Rose
Jan. 6: Janie Womack, Jody Echterling
Jan. 7: Simple Tenants
Jan. 12: Antonio Andrade
Jan. 13: Ever Since Summer
Jan. 19: Alex McQuade
Jan. 20: Doug Morris
Jan. 21: Shelba Purtle
Jan. 26: Joe Cooney
Jan. 27: Jeanine & Friends
Jan. 28: Colette Eckert

Fort Hunter
5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-599-5751; forthunter.org

Jan. 14: Susquehanna Folk Music Jam

Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (H*MAC)
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

Jan. 5: Masterglass, DJ Thrwback, Sleezy D.
Jan. 6: Tragedy: Metal Tribute to The Bee Gees & Beyond
Jan. 13: Minshara

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
The Forum at 5th and Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-545-5527; harrisburgsymphony.org

Jan. 6: Jeremy Gill’s “Ainulindalë,” Adam Golka

Hollywood Casino
777 Hollywood Blvd., Grantville
717-469-2211; hollywoodpnrc.com

Jan. 5: Lima Bean Riot
Jan. 6: DJ Magic, The Luv Gods
Jan. 12: Janelle Verones Band
Jan. 13: DJ Matrix, Sapphire
Jan. 19: The Big House Band
Jan. 20: DJ Styles, Smooth Like Clyde
Jan. 26: Uptown Band
Jan. 27: DJ Ray Rossi, Honeypump

Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Downtown
133 State St., Harrisburg
717-635-9870; littleampscoffee.com

Jan. 5: Hot Jam Factory, Port Ellis, Search Party
Jan. 19: Jelli Suzi Brown

Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Uptown
1836 Green St., Harrisburg littleampscoffee.com
717-695-4882; littleampscoffee.com

Jan. 9: Jake Bellissimo, Bluffs, Jim Carrey Ego
Jan. 16: Bless, Ulta Beauty
Jan. 28: Sarah M. & Ramona Cordova

Market Square Concerts
marketsquareconcerts.org

Jan. 21: Jasper and Jupiter String Quartets

The Mill in Hershey
810 Old W. Chocolate Ave., Hershey
717-256-9965; themillinhershey.com

Jan. 6: Kelsee Sweigard
Jan. 13: Corinna Joy
Jan. 27: The Jayplayers

Palmyra Church of the Brethren
45 N. Chestnut St., Palmyra
717-838-6369; palmyracob.org

Jan. 7: Palmyra Community Band Concert

River City Blues Club & Dart Room
819 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg
rivercityhbg.com

Jan. 27: Jarrad Briggs Album Release

Rusty Rail Brewing Company
5 N. 8th North St., Mifflinburg
570-966-7878; rustyrailbrewing.com

Jan. 12: Badfinger’s Joey Molland
Jan. 26: Johnny Winter All Star Band

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; sqart.org

Jan. 10: Steve Rudolph and Keith Cheng

The Susquehanna Folk Music Society
717-745-6577; sfmsfolk.org

Jan. 6: Open Mic
Jan. 7: Roy Book Binder
Jan. 14: Jam Session

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; millersville.edu/muarts

Jan. 5: Gospel Sounds of Lancaster
Jan. 7: Roy Book Binder
Jan. 12: Allegro’s Music in the Round—Brass Night
Jan. 26: Julie Keough “Crossover”

Zeroday Brewing Co.
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com

Jan. 5: Skribe
Jan. 19: Strangest Hearts

The Stage Door

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com

Jan. 14-15: “Dancing with the Stars Live”

Appel Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; mystrandcapitol.org

Jan. 4: “STOMP!”
Jan. 28: The Illusionists

The Belmont Theatre
27 S. Belmont St., York
717-854-3894; thebelmont.org

Jan. 12-21: Neil Simon’s “Plaza Suite”

Chameleon Club
223 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-299-9684; chameleonclub.net

Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29: Comedy Night Open Mic
Jan. 18: Henry Rollins
Jan. 28: Creed Bratton

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster
717-898-1900; DutchApple.com

Jan. 11-Feb. 3: “Something’s Afoot”

Gamut Theatre Group
15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-238-4111; gamuttheatre.org

Jan. 10-20: “Little Red Riding Hood” w/Popcorn Hat Players
Jan. 12-21: “Gallathea”
Jan. 25: TMI Improv January Show

Harrisburg Comedy Zone
110 Limekiln Rd., New Cumberland
717-920-5653; harrisburgcomedyzone.com

Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25: Open Mic
Jan. 14: Oxymorons Improv Comedy
Jan. 18-20: Kountry Wayne

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-798-6973; hbgimprov.com

Jan. 5: Oppositional Defiants/Hawkward, Name That Tune/Ferd Majelly, Jam
Jan. 6: Love Triangle, Last Resort, Bandito/Fours Company 2: In Addition Too
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: Improv Mixer
Jan. 12: What’s the Matter With Henry?, HAI/Brainwave Aftershave, Tristitia
Jan. 13: Zesty!/Bandjob, Ferret Prom/Solo Sleepover, Spacework
Jan. 19: Oppositional Defiants/Hawkward, Images, Jam
Jan. 20: JohNathan, Tony Stanza, Spank’d
Jan. 26: What’s the Matter With Henry?, Tiny Town, Hit Bits
Jan. 26, 28: Level 1 Class Show
Jan. 27: Zesty!/The Fourest, Introduce A Self, The Actor’s Craft/Pillow Talk

Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey
717-534-3405; hersheytheatre.com

Jan. 14: “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live”
Jan. 24-28: “Something Rotten!”

Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg
915 S. York St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0535; ltmpa.com

Jan. 12-28: “The Bad Seed”

Live at Rose Lehrman
One HACC Dr., Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu

Jan. 31: Lehrer Dance

Midtown Cinema
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-909-6566; midtowncinema.com

Jan. 11: “Truth or Dare” w/Untitled: A Storytelling Project

Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Café
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

Jan. 5, 12, 26: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7-9 p.m.
Jan. 19: Comedy Night, 8-9:30 p.m.

Open Stage of Harrisburg
223 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-232-OPEN; openstagehbg.com

Jan. 12-13: “Court Street Cabaret: Unsung Edition”

Oyster Mill Playhouse
1001 Oyster Mill Rd., Camp Hill
717-737-6768; oystermill.com

Jan. 26-Feb. 11: “Go Back For Murder”

Theatre Harrisburg
513 Hurlock St., Harrisburg
717-232-5501; theatreharrisburg.com

Jan. 19-28: “God of Carnage” at Whitaker Center

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; millersville.edu/muarts

Jan. 27: “Broadway’s Next Hit Musical”

Untitled: A Storytelling Project
untitledhbg.com

Jan. 11: “Truth or Dare” at Midtown Cinema

Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

Jan. 18: Henry Rollins
Jan. 19-28: “God of Carnage” w/Theatre Harrisburg

Musical Notes: Joyous January–New music for a new year.

December 29, 2017 | by Kait Gibboney

It’s another year, and, with it, I believe, should come new experiences. Therefore, I’m here to help you catch some fresh music in the city.

As the year begins, I enter it with hopes that the Harrisburg music scene will continue to grow and thrive, with new artists and venues for you to enjoy. So, I offer some classic venues, some new spots, and some familiar corners to check out this month. Stay warm out there and Happy New Year!

MINSHARA, 1/13, 8PM, H*MAC CAPITOL ROOM, FREE
As you may know, I love local bands, and I love highlighting the talent that lives here in our community. Minshara is an electronic pop group from Harrisburg made up of Aaron Miller on vocals and guitar, Tom Hand on bass and vocals, Evan Kirkley on drums and Liam Shatzer on guitar and vocals. They’ve been featured on TV and radio programs, including “Warped Tour,” and their music has been spreading. Check out their high-energy performance at the Capitol Room or watch them on YouTube for their song “The Void.” Their genre-defying sound, paired with catchy melodies, are definitely worth a night out at H*MAC.

HENRY ROLLINS, 1/18, 8PM, WHITAKER CENTER, $30-35
I’m pumped to share this show with all of you, and it’s not even a music event. You might know Henry Rollins from his career as Black Flag’s frontman or maybe from his show, “The Henry Rollins Show.” His contributions to music throughout his life are significant, and he’s bringing some new material to Whitaker Center for one night only. While traveling around the world, Rollins has documented his journey through photography. Throughout the evening, Rollins will present a unique performance incorporating his photographs and experiences abroad in the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, South America and Antarctica. This truly unique evening of storytelling is bound to be a captivating experience.

JELLI, 1/26, 7PM, THE VEGETABLE HUNTER, FREE
The Vegetable Hunter is a snug vegetarian restaurant that has made waves not only with its cooking but with its support for the local art scene. Performing at the restaurant for the evening is the acoustic/electric trio known as Jelli, and they’re bringing some fresh originals for your dining pleasure. This self-styled “acoustic hodge-podge” is comprised of Shelli Merrifield on world percussion and vocals, Jarrett Sumner on guitar, kazoo and lead vocals and Jeff Burfield on bass, guitar and vocals. This relatively new group has been making their way around the local circuit, spreading their refreshing and eclectic style. Their funky and energetic stylings in this colorful venue will bring some energy into your new year.

Mentionables:

Giddy Hop & Leeyuh Neptune, Jan. 5, River City Blues Club

Tragedy: All Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees and Beyond, Jan. 6, H*MAC Stage on Herr

Kool-Aid Kids, Jan. 13, The Abbey Bar

Suzi Brown, Jan. 19, Little Amps Downtown

Jarrad Briggs, Jan. 27, River City Blues Club

Ramona Córdova & Sarah M., Jan. 28, Little Amps Uptown

Soup Salve: A hearty minestrone to cure the wintertime blahs.

December 29, 2017 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

My sweet mother, Rose, was definitely the “soup lady.” No matter the season, there was broth or “brodo,” as she called it, in the refrigerator.

Like so many Italian immigrants before her, she considered soup true sustenance— nourishment if you were not feeling well, warmth on a cold winter day and healthy nutrition from its many vegetables and greens.

My father’s family loved soup, too. They never started a holiday dinner without a bowl of homemade chicken soup. Sometimes, it contained asparagus (usually at Easter) or escarole during the winter months.

The “classic” soups of Italy are fairly well known.

Stracciatella, which in Italian means “little rags,” is rich chicken broth with shreds of cooked egg. My mother made this often.

Pappa al pomodoro is tomato-and-bread soup made with either fresh tomatoes in the summer or roasted Roma tomatoes in the winter. This soup bears no resemblance to the canned tomato soup we are all accustomed to eating with our grilled cheese sandwiches.

Pasta fagioli, or pasta and beans, is what many of us call “pasta fazool.” It is thick, rich and hearty. Cooks in different regions of Italy argue over which bean is best to use for this cold weather favorite.

And then there’s tortellini in brodo—cheese-filled purses of pasta dough in simple, clear broth, either chicken or beef. My husband cherishes every last drop of this soup when I make it.

But one could argue that the best known and perhaps most loved Italian soup is minestrone, a thick vegetable soup that has been described as a “soup for all seasons.” It differs from other Italian soups in that it must contain beans, a “thickening vegetable” such as potato, and either rice or pasta.

Like so many other Italian dishes, there are likely as many versions of minestrone as there are cooks. Minestrone is considered Italian peasant food (cucina povera), usually made with seasonal vegetables and often whatever the cook might have in the fridge. Along with good, crusty bread, it is a meal in itself.

My mother’s version of this soup was made from homemade beef broth, which she made with a variety of bones and a huge piece of beef chuck. But minestrone can be made with ham, chicken or a simple vegetable broth and is delicious that way, too. Homemade broth is best, but there are many brands of good, lower-sodium broths on the grocery shelves today. My mother’s soup seemed to get better each day after it was made as the soup thickened and the flavors melded.

The recipe that follows is from Liguria, a coastal region of northwestern Italy. It is a good one. I have changed some of the ingredients to shorten preparation time; you can substitute vegetables as well, according to your own taste.

Ligurian Minestrone Soup

Ingredients

2 cups of broth (chicken, beef, vegetable or ham)
1 onion, chopped (I use sweet onions rather than “cooking onions.”)
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
¼ cup olive oil
1 bunch Swiss chard chopped (you can also use spinach or kale), tough stems removed and chopped
3 potatoes, peeled and chopped
1½ cups peeled and diced squash such as butternut (You can also substitute green beans cut into 1-inch lengths or chopped green cabbage.)
2 cups canned beans rinsed and drained (cannellini, borlotti or navy)
Piece of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese rind (optional but a wonderful touch)
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ pound small pasta such as ditalini, elbow macaroni, tubetti or even spaghetti broken into small lengths
Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for sprinkling on top before serving

Directions

In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook the onion, carrots and celery in the olive oil until golden about 10 minutes. Stir frequently.
Stir in the Swiss chard or spinach, potatoes (or green beans or cabbage), tomatoes, beans and cheese rind (if using).
Add enough broth to barely cover the vegetables. Bring to a simmer and then reduce the heat to low.
Add the salt and pepper and cook uncovered until the soup is thickened and the vegetables are soft, about 1½ hours. Add extra broth if the soup becomes too thick.
Add the pasta and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the pasta is tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
When ready to serve, sprinkle grated cheese on top.

It’s fun to play with this soup. Add the vegetables you like. My mother used corn and peas. Some recipes call for chopped mushrooms. If you have made homemade broth, you can add some shredded chicken, beef or ham. You can even cut the cooked cheese rind into pieces and eat it with your soup.

Italian soup may not cure your case of wintertime flu. But it certainly will warm you up and make you feel better. Don’t forget the Italian bread for dipping!

History & Community: Der Harrisburg Maennerchor marks 150 years of fraternity, service.

December 29, 2017 | by Jen Fertenbaugh

Sometimes, you want to go where everybody knows your name. Luckily, you only need to travel to North Street in historic downtown Harrisburg to find it.

“It’s like Harrisburg’s version of Cheers,” said Barry Dobb, president of Der Harrisburg Maennerchor, the city’s oldest fraternal organization that recently celebrated its 150th consecutive year of operation.

The members-only club operates out of a renovated cathedral, its architecture and décor reflecting its history, culture and values. A mahogany staircase leads to a second floor used for private parties, monthly membership meetings and corn hole tournaments. Large, cathedral-style windows line the north wall, inviting in an abundance of natural light and a clear view of the state Capitol.

The main floor consists of a horseshoe-shaped bar and a game room with family-style seating, pool tables and an oversized Jenga. Coats of arms decorate the walls, representing various regions of Germany—a symbolic nod to the club’s beginnings.

Whether a bartender, business owner or government official—the Harrisburg Maennerchor offers fellowship, great prices and a variety of other amenities to its nearly 800 male and female members.

“Three words come to my mind when I think of the place,” said Bryan Robinson, who joined last August, “economical, pleasant and entertaining.”

“As far as I’ve been told,” Dobb added, “it’s been like that since the beginning.”

Same Cause

Der Harrisburg Maennerchor—literally “The Harrisburg Men’s Choir”—formed in 1867, one of many German-American clubs that sprouted up across Pennsylvania in the 19th century to share and preserve a common heritage following mass migration from Europe.

“Each club operates independently, but they all started for the same reason, the same cause,” Dobb said.

Club records indicate meetings were originally held at Eby’s Place, located on Market Street across from the railroad station.

According to the “Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania,” community advocate Eby Byers erected the building in 1862 to care for wounded soldiers during the Civil War. It later evolved into a meeting place for immigrant groups, including the Maennerchor, where men could commune for fellowship and fun.

The club secured its official charter in 1890 and purchased a building at Walnut and River streets, now the location of the McCormick Library. Membership increased, and the club sold the Walnut Street property to the Dauphin County Library System in 1901, buying the cathedral at North and Church streets.

“We’re one of the oldest continuously operating clubs of its kind in the country,” said Dobb. “We’re part of Harrisburg’s history.”

Club activities evolved in response to the changing political climate, yet it remained operational.

“We survived Prohibition,” Dobb said. “Rumor was they used to run booze through the catacombs in the basement.”

Although the Prohibition-era activity is part of many members’ narratives, Dobb emphasized that no records document any unlawful alcohol transport.

In the 1940s, membership declined.

“They began downplaying the German aspect, and that’s when focus shifted to core values, to caring for the community,” Dobb explained.

Later in the 20th century, membership expanded again when women could join. In 1980, the Women’s Auxiliary gained momentum. Dobb said that the group supports the community and the club, selling baked goods at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and sponsoring various events.

Looking after their community is important.

“Members take care of one another,” Dobb said. “People come for the great prices, the fellowship and the food—and, of course, they enjoy the gambling.”

More than half of the gaming proceeds go to fund the club’s charitable giving. To date, the Maennerchor has donated more than $329,000 to numerous nonprofits, including the American Cancer Society, the Harrisburg Public Schools Foundation and the Salvation Army.

Volunteer committees also organize events and fundraisers throughout the year, celebrating the club’s culture and values. Most recently, it hosted an Oktoberfest that included an outdoor biergarten along Church Street. In November, it held a celebratory dinner to commemorate its 150th anniversary.

Friendly People

Robinson said that the club offers much to members.

Dinner is served five nights a week, along with a weekly Sunday brunch and bloody Mary bar. The private club designation permits alcohol to be served until 3 a.m.

“It can be two or three deep at the bar, and all the tables full on any given night,” said Vice President Georg McLaughlin. “But everyone respects the rules.”

Dobb, McLaughlin and Robinson agreed that the rules are part of the tradition. These include no hats or tank tops for men and no foul language.

“There’s a swear jar the bartender will get out if you forget,” McLaughlin warned.

Long-time member and former manager Paul Baldari also believes the club’s friendly atmosphere stems from a universal respect of its policy. Throughout his 27-year involvement, Baldari has held numerous leadership posts and was instrumental in many changes in the club. He attributes the Maennerchor’s long-term success to one major factor.

“It’s the people—the members and the staff,” he said. “Someone is always willing to step up.”

Baldari is part of the club’s modern history. He has seen business ebb and flow, yet one thing remains consistent.

“It’s always been a nice place to go,” he said, noting that many members often refer to it as Harrisburg’s “best kept secret.”

Dobb pointed out that too much of a secret can be a bad thing.

“When you’re private from everyone, you’re going too far,” he said. “We want people to know what we stand for and what we do.”

Membership expansion continues to be a priority. Robinson said he plans to use social media to increase outreach and share the club’s community events. According to Robinson, new members can expect to find camaraderie in an easygoing atmosphere—one that has been 150 years in the making.

“This is no longer a German club,” Robinson said. “It’s a club for every race and religion—a friendly place for friendly people.”

Der Harrisburg Maennerchor is located at 221 North St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.hbgmaennerchor.com or their Facebook page.

Park Place: In Harrisburg, a foundation is helping city parks make a comeback.

December 29, 2017 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

A late autumn chill lingered in the air on a recent morning in Harrisburg’s Reservoir Park, but the small crowd gathered around Rebirth Fountain didn’t appear concerned about getting wet from the spray.

In fact, some might even welcome it.

It was Nov. 14, the first time the landmark fountain had worked properly in 15 years, thanks to a restoration project coordinated by the Harrisburg Parks Foundation.

To get the 23-year-old city fixture up and running, the volunteer foundation partnered with the Special Projects Committee of the Greater Harrisburg Area, which helped raise funds. The foundation acted as a “coordinator” between all parties involved with the project, which included the city, said foundation member Scott Shepler.

Folks gathered on that day, including Mayor Eric Papenfuse, seemed very pleased with the result.

“This is a clear example of what we can accomplish if we unite the public and private sectors in beautifying our city,” Papenfuse told the crowd.

Foundation chair Jeb Stuart later added his own words of encouragement.

“Our whole thing is to improve the city one way or the other,” he said. “It’s a marriage of historic preservation and restoring and enhancing our parks.”

In Tandem

Many of Harrisburg’s parks took shape or were improved during the City Beautiful movement of more than a century ago. At that time, Harrisburg’s community and business leaders joined forces to improve sanitation services, clean up toxic waterways and restore natural elements to the city’s dense urban landscape.

Today, the city is recommitting to its parks and green spaces, and the Parks Foundation is playing an increasingly critical role in that effort.

The foundation, which operates under the auspices of the nonprofit Foundation for Enhancing Communities, has a layered mission, Stuart said.

Primarily, it supports Harrisburg’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Enrichment to help preserve, maintain and develop the city’s parks and playgrounds. But it also works to improve recreational opportunities in Harrisburg generally.

Besides the city itself, it operates in tandem with several other local organizations, including Dauphin County Parks and Recreation, Capital Region Water, Capital Area Greenbelt and Historic Harrisburg Association.

The foundation, just three years old, already has taken on several high-profile projects.

Besides the fountain restoration, it raised $8,000 in 2015 to purchase a new swing set for a city playground on Vernon Street in Allison Hill. In 2016, members accepted a $15,000 check from PPL Utilities for renovating the pavilion at the 4th and Emerald Street playground. The foundation also played a role in creating the Reservoir Park master plan, which was released earlier this year.

In addition to grants from various organizations, the foundation raises money from the annual Jack Crago Memorial Golf Outing, held each summer, which is its principal fundraising event.

Environmental education is another focus for the foundation.

This past October, it began sponsoring a free environmental film series, which takes place at the Civic Club of Harrisburg.

The next film in the series, “Water Blues, Green Solution,” will screen on March 22. That movie tells the story of communities that create green solutions for water “blues” like flooding, pollution and scarcity.

“Cities of Trees” follows on April 22, a tale of how a nonprofit worked to reduce poverty in Washington, D.C., by offering jobs to the unemployed while improving parks. “How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things That Climate Can’t Change” is also on the docket for 2018.

The film screenings were inspired by the foundation’s previous presentation, “Hometown Habitat” at the Appalachian Brewing Co. in Harrisburg. Upwards of 100 people came to see the environmental film by the Meadow Project and Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council.

Admission to all films is free and open to the public, courtesy of the foundation.

A Marriage

For such a young organization, the foundation has made quite an impact, which is even more impressive as its principals are very busy people.

For example, Shepler is known for his work with the Capital Area Greenbelt Association. He’s also a founder of the nonprofit Trips for Kids, which organizes bike trips for area youth, and was involved with the Reservoir Park master plan.

All in all, Shepler’s civic duties don’t leave him with much spare time on his hands.

“It’s a good thing I don’t have a job,” he quipped, referring to his “retirement” a few years ago.

Harrisburg Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Sanders sits on the parks foundation’s 15-member committee, offering suggestions about potential city projects.

“From our standpoint, we try to provide projects that the city might need help with,” he explained. “We try to guide certain things.”

Stuart, a long-time city activist, historian and preservationist, added that the foundation’s mission ultimately is to help the city progress.

“We’ve already had a lot of successes,” he said. “We’re up and operational and have all our pieces together.”

For more information about the Harrisburg Parks Foundation, visit www.harrisburgparksfoundation.org.

Stories on environmental topics are proudly sponsored by LCSWMA.

Forever Young: At Market Square Concerts, a celebration of youth turns 20.

December 29, 2017 | by Lori M. Myers

Jasper String Quartet

Peter Sirotin, artistic director of Market Square Concerts, remembers growing up in the Soviet Union and discovering the challenge of being a young, aspiring professional musician.

While his violin-playing days began in his childhood, as it does for many musicians, the reach for that gold ring would demand quite a stretch.

“Russia had a much more rigorous pre-college professional music training,” Sirotin said. “The mastery of craft was always prioritized over artistic originality. You had to earn the right to introduce new ideas by mastering tradition.”

There, the path to a performance career was mainly through winning competitions. Here, he said, there are awards that offer professional performance opportunities for young musicians.

Which is why Market Square Concerts is one of eight presenting organizations nationwide, including Carnegie Hall and others in Michigan, Texas and elsewhere, which bestow the Cleveland Quartet Award on a promising young string quartet biannually.

This month, Market Square Concerts will celebrate the 20th anniversary of this award with a program featuring two former winners, the Jasper String Quartet and the Jupiter String Quartet, which have gone on to develop major international recognition. Both of these groups have garnered prestigious awards, commissioned new works, and expanded their teaching careers through residences at various universities.

“All of the past winners of the Cleveland Quartet Award have blossomed into a major presence on international stages and some have won Grammy awards,” Sirotin said.

The award is not only a way to honor and promote a rising young string quartet, but it also assures the quality and legacy of chamber music so that young performers may continue to perfect their art for the enjoyment of current and future audiences.

Notably, the January concert features a sort of “youth” theme in its musical choices. One piece, the String Octet, was composed by Mendelssohn when he was 16 years old. Another, Mozart’s D Minor String Quartet, was inspired by the birth of his first child.

“You could definitely say that it is consistent with the youthful theme because Mendelssohn created one of the most exciting and intricate works in chamber music using eight instruments to expand expressive range to orchestral richness and brilliance at the age of 16,” Sirotin said. “Mozart’s music in general has a youthful energy even though it is often deeply insightful and wise. The D Minor String Quartet was written while his wife was in labor with their first son in the next room. This piece combines emotional intensity and depth with classical elegance and poise—a true masterpiece of the classical era.”

The Jasper and Jupiter quartets will also join forces to perform Debussy’s groundbreaking String Quartet in G Minor, which represents, Sirotin said, “a young composer’s rebellion against the constraints of generally accepted rules of composition in his day. The piece is widely considered to be a watershed moment in the history of chamber music.”

If you’re not familiar with chamber music, this Market Square performance is the perfect way to experience a program of classical, romantic and modernist styles. The performance will introduce audiences to up-and-coming talent and have them experience a variety of moods. The music is intimate, like having a conversation with a few close friends, Sirotin said.

Sirotin knows what he’s talking about when it comes to chamber music. He recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of his own chamber ensemble, the Mendelssohn Piano Trio, which has performed more than 500 concerts and recorded 15 CDs.

He remembers his trio’s start when every performance offered a learning opportunity that proved invaluable. The Cleveland Quartet Award and the Market Square Concert featuring the Jasper and Jupiter string quartets does just that by giving them and future chamber music quartets the chance to grab that gold ring.

The Market Square Concert featuring past Cleveland Quartet winners, the Jasper String Quartet and the Jupiter String Quartet, takes place Sunday, Jan. 21, at 4 p.m. at Market Square Presbyterian Church, 20 S. 2nd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.marketsquareconcerts.org.

Student Scribes: “Terry Cloth Robe”

December 29, 2017 | by Sally Choueka

Philadelphia looks busy through the window glass. It is a strange thing, she thinks, to be in a city with nowhere to go. There would be commuters and students and officers patrolling the streets at this early hour, no doubt on their way to someplace. She decides to wait, an hour or two, until they are completely gone.

She sips coffee slowly from a ceramic mug with the hotel name on its side. She considers. If she had a job, she would be walking through a marble atrium, heels clacking on the floor. There’d be a security turnstile and a guard, nodding her through with the simple flash of a badge. She’d done an internship once, and she had worn deep maroon jeans and tops with v-necks.

“What do you want to do?” A driven person had asked her this question, many years ago.

“I want to be a teacher.” She had answered too quickly. Too quickly to reconsider, too quickly to ask why.

“Oh.”

They were standing in a marble atrium of a New York City news corporation. She did not know where the nearest public school was or that she would ever care to find out. She held a spiral notebook with scribbled notes and had just filed her college major as “journalism.” But even then, it seemed to her in retrospect, even then she knew.

She knew by the shine of the marble and the smoothness of the escalators and the golden elevator doors. She knew by the TV personalities and the live cameras: the view was too blinding. There were moments late at night, post-show production, when she would lean her forehead against the glass, breathing deeply at the lights in the skyscrapers and the taxi cabs below. “It’ll all be over soon,” she whispered. Her breath came in spurts, and her heartbeat was fast.

Here in Philadelphia, she sits in a terry cloth robe for several hours. She sips more coffee and types keywords into his computer. His computer is the latest model, and she is his wife. She is the wife of a man with the latest model computer. The corners of her mouth turn upward at the thought. There are six hours to go until he returns.

“Just enough time,” she says aloud, to no one in particular. She looks for jobs at the Philadelphia museums. She looks for jobs at the libraries. She dares to glance through a list of reporting jobs, all of which require late hours and derring-do.

By the third hour of terrycloth and coffee, she has three potential jobs. All are to do with children, and none require late-night work. She imagines a 19-year-old version of herself sucking in her cheeks, pursing her lips, flapping her arms and making chicken noises.

“You don’t understand,” she whispers fervently at the 19-year-old, “I don’t want to be a reporter anymore.”

“What do you want to do?” The 19-year-old asks, dropping her imaginary chicken arms.

“I want to be a teacher.” Again, without thinking.

New York CIty rises like a mirage from the reflections on the Philadelphia skyscraper glass. In New York, there are more people and more buildings. She watches the multitudes rush to catch the trains, honk their horns and shout at pedestrians. The Philadelphians below try to do the same, but are more polite about it.

“Someone should write about that,” she thinks.

She imagines herself in front of a classroom. “You know,” she tells her future students, “you should write about that.” She twirls the belt of the robe, and glances down into an empty cup. Leaning her head back and counting the minutes, her breath comes in steady streams, and her heartbeat is slow. “You should write about that,” she murmurs.

Sally Choueka is a master’s student in humanities at Penn State Harrisburg.

December News Digest

December 29, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda and Lizzy Hardison

Harrisburg Finalizes Budget

Harrisburg last month passed a 2018 budget did not raise city tax rates, but added a number of new salaried positions and approved millions of dollars in capital investments.

The final budget did not differ much from that proposed by Mayor Eric Papenfuse in late November, which leveraged higher revenue from a growing tax base to increase the city’s operating budget from $61 million last year to $65 million in 2018. The city will also spend $9.2 million from its cash reserves, which will cover a $2 million debt payment and $7.2 million in capital improvement projects.

Expenditures in 2018 will increase in two main categories: personnel and capital projects.

On the personnel front, the city budgeted for $32.5 million in salaries compared to $31 million in 2017. That figure, which excludes healthcare costs, will create seven new management positions and two new sanitation positions. The budget permits the Fire Bureau to make five hires and the Police Bureau to recruit 20 new officers.

The additional personnel funds will also increase salaries for two positions in the law bureau and award raises to sanitation workers represented by the AFSCME union.

The city defines a capital project as any expenditure exceeding $5,000. In 2018, proposed capital projects include $1 million on new radios and patrol cars for police, $700,000 for work on the 15th Street police substation and $80,000 for police body cameras. About $450,000 will go towards renovating city playgrounds, and projects to renovate Reservoir Park will receive almost $1 million thanks to a last minute cash transfer by Council.

Composting Plan to Proceed

Harrisburg intends to move ahead with plans to build a composting facility in Susquehanna Township, despite continued opposition from some township residents.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that the city will apply for a facility permit with the state Department of Environmental Protection this month. If DEP grants the permit, which Papenfuse believes it will, the city will begin to convert the site to a compost facility.

City officials have campaigned to build a composting facility at 1850 Stanley Rd. since summer 2017. After they were met with fierce opposition from some residents in Susquehanna Township, they agreed to delay the permit application until they had more public support. Over the following months they hosted informational sessions and visits to comparable sites to teach residents about composting.

Papenfuse made his final pitch at a township board of commissioners meeting last month, at which several township residents expressed opposition. Nonetheless, he said he believes the project has won enough support in the community to proceed.

“There’s a handful of people from the neighborhood who oppose it, but it’s not overwhelming,” he said.

Papenfuse told the crowd that composting leaves and lawn waste—which essentially involves letting the material decompose into the ground—does not carry any risks to humans, soil or water sources.

Some residents claimed that the facility would create odors or mar neighborhood views. Others worried about noise from the machinery and increased traffic from the Public Works Department trucks that transport the waste.

Papenfuse assured residents that the site would be unobtrusive when it opens. Public Works vehicles will use mostly Harrisburg roads to get to the site, and employees will operate the machinery on a limited, set schedule.

Allison Hill Substation

The Harrisburg Police Bureau is on track to open a police substation in Allison Hill in late summer 2018, but officials said last month that it would not be open around the clock.

During a hearing on the 2018 budget, Police Chief Tom Carter and Capt. Derric Moody told City Council that the substation will not operate 24/7 or have civilian staff when it opens in August.

Police may expand operations at the substation as they grow their ranks. The city hopes to hire 20 new officers and a community policing coordinator next year.

“Our goal is to have full service there, but, realistically speaking, we can’t currently achieve that with the manpower we have,” Moody said.

The plan is to use the substation as a staging area for specialized police units and an outpost for officers responding to calls in Allison Hill. The 1,600-square-foot building on S. 15th Street will include a space for police trainings and community meetings, as well as a squad room, break room, equipment room and locker room with showers.

It will also have an area for a receptionist, though there are currently no plans to hire one. Members of the public will be able to enter the substation for public meetings or interviews with police officers, but will not have access the same administrative services as the Public Safety headquarters downtown.

“We’re trying to provide a central location for officers,” Moody said.

Act 47 to Continue

Harrisburg is likely to spend another three years in the state’s Act 47 program for financially distressed municipalities, according to a state advisor who oversees the city’s finances.

Marita Kelly, Harrisburg’s Act 47 coordinator for the state Department of Community and Economic Development, last month praised the city’s “many achievements” since it entered Act 47 in 2011.

However, she believes that the city will not be able to afford to exit the program at the end of 2018, when it becomes eligible. While it would regain independent financial oversight, it would stand to lose some $13 million in revenue without the extra taxing authority allowed under the program.

Kelly added that Harrisburg has avoided some of the problems that plague other third-class cities across the state, such as difficulty financing legacy payments—healthcare and benefit payments for current and retired employees.

Bruce Weber, the city’s budget and finance director, reported that two of the city’s pension accounts are fully funded, but a third fund for police pensions is causing some concern.

“We only have one that’s slightly in distress,” Weber said. “We are contributing to it every year.”

Kelly will make a formal recommendation for Harrisburg’s Act 47 status in March. The only condition that would enable the city to exit the program would be a change to the third-class city code or a set of special taxing provisions for the city approved by the state legislature.

County Taxes Hold Steady

The Dauphin County commissioners last month passed a 2018 budget that keeps property taxes steady for a 13th consecutive year.

The three-person board passed a $241 million budget that contains no increase in the county portion of the property tax, which will remain unchanged at 6.876 mills.

The county does expect to spend more than it takes in for 2018, but plans to use as much as $12.5 million in reserve funds to make up the shortfall. The county stated that it still expects to have a reserve fund balance of about $25 million by the end of 2018.

Last year, Dauphin County also balanced its budget by dipping into its reserve fund. It estimated that it would spend $12.5 million in reserves, but will only spend about $5.2 million by year-end, according to current county estimates.

The county stated that it will add funds to the county coroner’s office in 2018 to deal with the rise in opioid-related deaths. Last year, there were 85 overdose deaths in the county, but the coroner expects more than 100 by Dec. 31.

Sewer Projects Begin

Capital Region Water began a new round of sewer replacement and improvements last moth, affecting several neighborhoods in Harrisburg.

Andrew Bliss, community outreach manager, said CRW is staggering the $700,000 project through the end of January. In all, CRW will repair more than 800 feet of aging and broken sewer mains and manholes at five locations.

The individual projects are:

– Mid-December to early January
S. 13^th Street, between Market Street and Howard Street
New manhole, 18 feet of new sewer pipe

– End of December to early January
Cameron and Market streets
Spray on concrete liner, 18-inch sewer pipe

– Early January to end of January
Magnolia Street between Cameron and 12^th streets
New manhole on Cameron Street, pipe lining

– Mid-January to end of January
Derry Street between 13^th and 14^th Streets
New manhole, 13 feet of pipe, pipe lining

– Mid-January to end of January
Fulton and Hamilton streets
New manhole connection

Potential impacts of the construction include street closures, parking restrictions, construction noise and temporary sewer service interruptions. When the pipe replacement is complete, the road will be temporarily patched until final street restoration is completed in the spring of 2018, Bliss said.

Customers with questions can contact Capital Region Water by phone at 888-510-0606 or by email at [email protected].

So Noted

Harrisburg School Board last month tabled a motion on whether to search for a new school district superintendent. The board is expected to revisit the issue again later this year, as Superintendent Sybil Knight-Burney’s contract expires in June.

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology last month unveiled its new, expanded campus in central Philadelphia. HU is sharing the 38,000 square feet of space at 1500 Spring Garden St. with Hussian College.

Harrisburg Young Professionals last month selected Suzanne Patackis as president of the 2018 executive board, replacing outgoing President Joe Tertel. HYP also announced that Jeff Copus and Adeolu Bakare will serve as co-vice presidents, Brittany Brock as secretary and Jeremy Scheibelhut as treasurer.

UPMC Pinnacle last month named Dr. James Raczek as its new chief medical officer. In that role, Raczek leads quality and safety programs, medical education and medical staff relationships and contributes to strategic planning and implementation.

Changing Hands

Barkley Lane, 2502: US Bank National Assoc. to S. Vetock, $32,000

Barkley Lane, 2507: R.C. Medellin to R. Medellin, $48,000

Boas St., 406: A. Heisey to S. Higginbotham, $115,000

Briggs St., 270: M. Ennis to E. & A. Williams, $228,000

Brookwood St., 2435: R. House to I. & K. Mita, $56,000

Calder St., 262: J. Goldberg to R. Yaegle, $118,000

Calder St., 500: W. Tatar to S. Hoffman, $125,000

Conoy St., 115: A. & C. Stoudt to R. Rodino, $145,000

Conoy St., 121: A. Spisask to K. Russell, $92,500

Cumberland St., 214: D. & E. Zampogna to M. Santalucia, $141,000

Fulton St., 1709: J. Ganeva to C. Messner, $110,000

Green St., 1624: K. Lewis to P. & M. Rowan, $192,000

Green St., 1817: T. & L. Sopcak to B. Scelta, $129,000

Green St., 1826: D. & J. Kalbach to D. Ober, $165,000

Industrial Rd., 3300: Pennsylvania Terminals Corp. to 3300 Industrial Road Associates LP, $865,000

Market St., 1923: K. Griffith to D. Thomas, $70,000

Mercer St., 2430: PA Deals LLC to R. Buehner, $63,900

Mercer St., 2464: C. Hobbs to T. & J. Knaub, $60,000

North St., 232: E. Finkelstein to G. Kramer, $125,000

N. 2^nd St., 812: A. Meoli to Diocese of Harrisburg, $212,000

N. 2^nd St., 2234: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to C. Eisner, $43,200

N. 2^nd St., 2527: GRSW Stewart Real Estate Trust to K. & D. Maltzie, $174,000

N. 2^nd St., 3211: E. & J. Daschbach to K. McRae, $99,900

N. 3^rd St., 925: D. Bobinchek & 921 Home LLC to 921 Home LLC, $105,000

N. 3^rd St., 2340: T. Wadlinger to D. & S. Houck, $168,265

N. 5^th St., 2736: PA Deals LLC to MidAtlantic IR LLC & Jennifer Fernandes IRA, $63,000

N. 13^th St., 139: Falco Inc. to Round the Horn LLC, $45,000

N. 16^th St., 914: J. & H. Wilbur to JB2 Properties LLC, $59,900

N. 16^th St., 916: PA Deals LLC to Z. Kissinger, $69,900

N. 17^th St., 1122: MBHH RE LLC to S. Garcia, $31,000

Peffer St., 228: N. & L. Chohany to B. Matuszny, $173,000

Peffer St., 263: Members 1^st Federal Credit Union to E. Patry, $49,900

Penn St., 1715: S. Dunn to BencMarq Holdings LLC, $77,001

Pennwood Rd., 3160: J. & M. Bush to T. Wylie, $150,000

Rumson Dr., 2983: C. Shenk to J. Jones, $69,000

S. 14^th St., 314: J. Reichwein to E. & B. Katz, $62,000

S. 14^th St., 1415: D. Fahie to City of Harrisburg, $47,000

S. 14^th St., 1419: H. & C. Pollard to City of Harrisburg, $50,000

S. 14^th St., 1439: R. & S. Dighe to City of Harrisburg, $50,000

S. 16^th St., 435: M. Bui to L. DiGiacomo & M. Ganci, $48,000

S. 17^th St., 140: Allison Hill Partners LLC to Hamilton Health Center Inc., $250,000

S. River St., 304: D. Havior to D. Ogden & Pear Tree Revocable Trust, $40,000

State St., 1406: R. & A. Sharp to JRC Properties, $80,000

Susquehanna St., 1614: J. & S. DeMuro to S. Brandon & L. Fisher, $152,000

Susquehanna St., 1701: R. Ambrose to R. Covington & T. Pean, $137,000

Susquehanna St., 1711: Susquehanna Valley Properties to N. DeMuro, $113,000

Harrisburg property sales for November 2017, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

December 28, 2017 | by Sara Bozich

Happy Weekend!

Please excuse the abbreviated Weekend Roundup. I have a pretty good reason.

It’s a light week due to the holidays but hit me on IG or on the Facebook Group if you need a recommendation for New Year’s Eve.

Our tradition has been low-key long before baby: massages, pedicures, sushi and me falling asleep before midnight, followed by our annual New Year’s Day party, loaded with pork, kraut and hangover cures for our guests. Stay tuned for my post on this.

What are you doing this weekend?

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TheBurg Podcast: Budgets and School Board Edition

December 22, 2017 | by TheBurg Staff

As the year comes to a close and holiday indulgences beckon, TheBurg editor Larry Binda and city reporter Lizzy Hardison recap the week in news and look ahead to 2018. In this episode, they discuss the city’s finalized budget, which will make some exciting project possible in the new year. They also examine the debate surrounding Harrisburg City Schools superintendent Sybil Knight-Burney, whose contract is up for renewal in 2018. The School Board isn’t sure she deserves another term. Lizzy describes a showdown that took place at last week’s board meeting and explains why Knight-Burney drew fire for supporting a school voucher program in 2011. Plus, Lizzy and Larry round out the year’s top news stories.

Stream the episode on SoundCloud or download it in your Apple or Android podcast app.

Be sure to ring in the new year with the next issue of theBurg, which comes out Friday, Dec. 29.

Read reporting mentioned in this episode:

In the Books: Harrisburg Council makes a few tweaks, passes 2018 budget.

All Heat No Fire: Divided Harrisburg school board delays vote on superintendent’s future.

To Re-hire or Not? Pro-voucher video surfaces as Harrisburg school board considers Knight-Burney’s future.

Citing low manpower, police dial back plans for Allison Hill substation.

As Harrisburg finalizes its 2018 budget, officials hear a forecast for Act 47.

Exit Strategy: Harrisburg seeks assistance as it eyes leaving Act 47.

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